Clients say Michael’s ‘diligence and manner are most impressive.’
Chambers USA

Pillsbury partner Michael Reese has advised clients worldwide on energy and infrastructure projects worth billions of dollars and is recognized by The Legal 500 U.S.

Michael is known for closing blockbuster deals in the energy and infrastructure arenas, with a focus on capital-intensive power, sustainable finance and renewable energy projects. He guides clients through every project stage, from project development and joint venture formation through financing, operation and divestiture. In addition, Michael handles complex transactions for U.S. and international corporations, financial institutions, governments, sponsors/developers, utilities and investors.

Representative Experience

  • Represented SoftBank Group Corp. in its CAD $99 million investment in Nemaska Lithium Inc.
  • Representing sponsor/project company on the financing of the Tenaska Westmoreland Generating Station, a 925-megawatt, gas-fired electric generating plant in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
  • Representing PSEG in its acquisition and development of Keys Energy Center, a gas-fired electric generating plant in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

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  • Representing Marubeni in its acquisition of a minority interest in the Atlantic Wind Connection, a $5 billion, multistage offshore transmission line.
  • Representing the placement agent in the $196 million offering of securities guaranteed by an export credit agency for a water desalination plant in Algeria.
  • Representing a foreign equity investor in its disposition of minority interests in multiple gas-fired electric generating plants across the United States.
  • Representing the sponsor/project company on the construction financing and permanent financing of a 150-megawatt photovoltaic solar generating facility in Imperial County, California.
  • Representing the sponsor/project company on the construction financing and permanent financing of a 130-megawatt photovoltaic solar generating facility in Imperial County, California.
  • Representing the sponsor/project company in the financing of a series of utility-scale solar projects in Puerto Rico.
  • Representing solar projects sharing generator tie-line assets and related real property in Southern California.
  • Representing the sponsor/project company in the financing of a utility-scale solar project on Long Island, New York.
  • Representing a foreign equity investor in its acquisition of a minority interest in a gas-fired electric generating plants Dutchess County, New York.
  • Representing a foreign equity investor in its acquisition of a minority interest in an offshore transmission line.
  • Representing the sponsor/project company in the development and financing of a fertilizer plant in Indiana.
  • Representing the investors in a private placement secured by the revenues under servicing agreements with a supplier of fuel cells with proprietary technology.
  • Representing the sponsor/project company in the financing of a satellite, including multiple export credit agency tranches.
  • Representing the sponsor/project company in the development and financing of a proposed domestic nuclear power plant.
  • Representing a foreign company in its investment in a proposed domestic power plant that will use the foreign company’s nuclear technology.
  • Representing the initial purchaser and letter of credit provider in the development of domestic natural gas-fired electric generating plant using new turbine technology.
  • Representing the project company in the acquisition financing and permanent financing of toll infrastructure assets.
  • Representing the agent/lender in the acquisition financing of toll infrastructure assets.
  • Representing a top five U.S. natural gas trader in its $1 billion receivables bank financing.
  • Representing a supplier of oil and natural gas in its $725 million senior secured financing.
  • Representing the project company in its high-yield $361 million offering to refinance construction financing of an electric generation power plant in Alabama.
  • Representing the project company in a restructuring of collateral arrangements to secure natural gas price swaps for a natural gas-fired electric generation facility in Texas.
  • Representing the project company in its $715 million holdco-opco offering for an electric generation power plant in Oklahoma; named the North American Project Bond Deal of the Year by Euromoney’s Project Finance magazine and the Bond Deal of the Year, Americas by Thomson’s Project Finance International magazine.
  • Representing the project company in its $483 million offering to refinance the construction financing of an electric generation power plant in Virginia.
  • Representing the project company in its $410 million offering to refinance the construction financing of an electric generation power plant in Alabama; named the North American Single Asset Deal of the Year by Euromoney’s Project Finance magazine and the North American Bond Deal of the Year by Thomson’s Project Finance International magazine.
  • Representing a public utility holding company in its issuance of $966 million of common stock.
  • Representing the borrower in $497 million construction financing of an electric generation power plant in Virginia; named the North American Single Asset Deal of the Year by Euromoney’s Project Finance magazine.

Professional Highlights

  • Recognized by Best Lawyers for Energy Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2024)
  • Recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. for Project Finance (2014, 2016 – 2019) and Renewable Energy (2018 – 2019).
  • Recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. for Project Finance (2014, 2016 – 2019) and listed in Chambers USA for Projects – National.

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  • Honors & Awards
    • Member of the Projects Team, Ranked in IJ Global – Three Top 20 League Tables for First of 2017 in North America (including Project Finance, Infrastructure Finance and Power Infrastructure Finance).
  • Associations
    • American Bar Association, Association of the Bar of the City of New York
  • Speaking Engagements
    • “Project Finance in the Private Placement Market – Search for Long-Term Yield in Power Sector,” ACIC conference, Chicago, (April 2018). Moderator.
    • “PJM: Evolving Financier Attitudes to the Market and an Update on Recent Auctions,” 12th Annual North American Energy & Infrastructure Finance Forum, New York, (September 20, 2017). Moderator.
    • “Examining the Capacity of the PJM Market for Future Conventional Power Deals,” 11th Annual North American Energy & Infrastructure Finance Forum, New York (September 21, 2016). Moderator.

Education

  • J.D., The University of Texas School of Law, 2001
    Townes-Rice Scholar

    M.A., The University of Texas at Austin, 1995

    B.A., University of Dallas, 1991

Admissions

  • New York

Languages

  • German